Taxes and Charity
Years of politicians clamoring to take a piece of our income has hindered our economy, ballooned our debt, and burdened American taxpayers. If the economy is booming, the government expands. If the economy is crashing, the government stimulates. How can we have so little control over how our taxes are spent in a democratic society?
Changes to the system should focus on growing the economy, eliminating our debt, and retaining as much as possible for taxpayers. To do this, sales taxes should be lowered or removed entirely to incentivize purchasing goods across the country. To bolster our economy, corporate taxes should be minimized, and all credits, deductions, and exemptions removed. Personal tax forms should be simplified to remove all credits, deductions, and exemptions. Income tax brackets should remain as they are until these effects have been fully comprehended and the national debt paid off. The capital gains tax should be raised to 25% at all income levels.
Charities do great things across this country. Along with numerous successful charities, there have been many that have let down the public by mishandling their generosity. I believe that with mandated transparency and an online marketplace, charities that have proven their dependability can take the place of most American social safety nets. This includes welfare, unemployment, homeless shelters, and the like. Local churches have solved local problems for centuries and will continue to do so.
